Greatest League in the World 2024 [new thread available]

Don’t see it myself. Certainly not if his punditry is anything to go by. A lot of words and cliches come out of his mouth, but it doesn’t amount to much.

They have looked tired last couple of times I have seen them at the Brandywell. All those euro games have got to catch up on a team at this level. I'm sure they are all giving 100% in those games. They are playing higher level teams now and I'm sure put in an unusually high level of effort.

Still, good result for us chasing them.

What changes would you make to the calendar?

Unfortunately there is a cost to qualifying for European group stages.

You get well paid, but it can only take its toll and has got to fatigue the players.

Agree with both arguments but needs to be some consideration for both scenarios

Never go back to winter football, people can forget how miserable it could be watching football in the cold and wet weather. Saw a ridiculous suggestion that Rovers field their u 19s for the rest of the European campaign to concentrate on the league. Aside from probably being fined whats the point of progressing in Europe if you're just going to wave the white flag. We have 29 registered first teamers, should be enough to rotate. Main problem currently is that Jack Byrne is well below his best which affects the whole team.

I fully understand that viewpoint from the teams who frequently arent at the races when it comes to qualifying for Europe that the league, Leinster Senior cup etc are their bread and butter.

Exactly. Shams were humped by Flora only last year. They had a very fortunate draw this year, where all they had to do was beat the champions of Malta and North Macedonia to get into the groups. Its all about luck of the draw. A strong champion in Q1 of the Champions League that knocks them out means they'd be scrambling in the ECL qualifiers.

Bannanas to even discuss going to a winter season when nearly every decent result the league has had over the past 20 years can be traced back to catching better resourced outfits cold at the beginning of their season.

Kerry FC with an update on the upgrading of Mounthawk Park:

Tallaght was smaller back then too, no South Stand for example. In fact I still remember derbies there with just the original West stand and it wouldn't have been full.

I don't think people appreciate how well the league has done in terms of increasing its matchday support.

You’re only queuing to see the Shelbourne 😎

Another massive win for us tonight at Pats. Keeps the pressure on Rovers.

Come on Sligo!

And yet again, we play well for 45min.

Not sure if it's fatigue, or tactics, but we play most of our football in the 1st half.

The upturn in crowds since we returned after COVID has been hugely encouraging. Long may it continue, and hopefully improve even more. You’d love to think that there could be a snowball effect, where the league could continue to grow.

Rovers vs Derry the end of the month could be some classic esp if potentially Derry keep winning and Rovers slip up between now and then

God, we're sh*te. Only 5 more left thankfully.

LOITV only. We haven't been good at all really but we've equalised twice.

Thought the offside was tight too. I'd need to see it back but looked like they were running alongside each other.

We didn't handle Cotter at all.

Can't argue with the penalties either. Second Pats one I'd question how Doyle saw it as by the time he turns to follow the cross its already happened. Doesn't mean it wasn't a foul so no arguments. Thought we could have defended both situations better.

Great entertainment though.

Penultimate game of season between Rovers & Derry live on RTE.

Jesus Rovers have really been shocking away from home in Europe this season.

0-3 to Ludogorets

0-4 to Ferencvaros

0-3 to Ghent

0-3 to Molde

And well and truly outclassed in each game too. The opposition are operating on a different level to any Irish team admittedly, but we've to be very disappointed with the performances we've put in in those games. On the flip side, we have given every team a game who've come to Tallaght and arguably been the better side in each of those games. But if we don't get anything from the remaining games it will feel like a disappointing performance in the group stage.